Unplanned, Planned Events

The blessing of living more than sixty years is that I’ve had the opportunity to witness God act in some very unexpected ways. So many times I have been astounded by how certain events unfolded. There were times I questioned God, but his wisdom proved right in the long run. When I read Esther 6, […]

The Thief of Wholeness

It isn’t hard to see that we live in a broken world. The longing for healing is evident. Jesus still offers hope in our brokenness.

Heartbreak Etched in Sand

I was walking the beach last week and I came across a message etched in the sand that I’m still thinking about. It was one of those messages where at first you smile and say, “That’s nice.” A moment later your heart sinks as you feel the weight of the last half of the note. […]

Waiting on God

When I see something happening to loved ones, or see them making poor choices, I want immediate change. I pray fervently to God to change the situation. At times I don’t understand why God does not act immediately to change things for the better. Then, as I read His Word, I am reminded to wait […]

Patient Compassion

Over and over in the Old Testament, King after King did evil in the sight of the Lord. Even though God sent prophets to call them to account and return to worshipping only Him, they still rebelled. Yet God was patient with them. 2 Chronicles 35:15 is an example: “The LORD, the God of their […]

How Fertile is the Soil of Your Relationships?

How we relate to one another may determine how fertile the soil is for the seeds of the gospel. Shallow relationships may not allow for the roots of the message of Jesus to run deep. As Jesus explained it in Matthew 13:5-6, because there was no “depth of soil,” there was “no root” and the […]

Crying Over the Removal of Tears

Every time I read Revelation 21:1-7, it brings tears to my eyes thinking about the removal of suffering. I know that’s ironic since this is the passage that talks about God “wiping away every tear (NASB).” But as long as I’m in this world, there will still be tears. Yet these verses are not just […]

Unending Joy

Joy in this world is elusive, but Jesus gives us another option if we choose to follow Him.

“You Can’t Name Him That!”

“And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” Luke 1:61, NASB Tradition can be a powerful force to face. When it was time to circumcise Elizabeth’s new born son, “they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father (Luke 1:59).” After all, that was […]

God Enabled Generosity

We are encouraged to be generous, to give freely to others, to share what we have. Yet do we consider that God gives us the ability to be generous? All that we have is given to us by the grace of God. In 1 Chronicles 29, David acknowledges this before God: “But who am I […]